Voltage generator



Patented July 4, 1950 VOLTAGE GENERATORv Carl A. Bergfors, Yonkers, N. Y., assignor toInternational Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 10, 19517, Serial No. 779,031

1 Claim.

This invention relates to asquare wavegenerator and has particular relation to a generator employing ,an oscillator and an amplifier.

In prior arrangements, a. vwell shaped square wave is customarily generated by apparatus comprising a multivibrator oscillator and electronic limiter. or clipper amplifier circuits coupled thereto. Eye wellshapedsquare .wave is meant one in which theleading and trailing wave fronts are substantially vertical while the tops and bottoms ,of the wave Varesubstantially horizontal. While such prior apparatus may be satisfactorily operated over arange of frequencies, the frequency band within which a well shaped square wave may b obtained is not as wide as is, many times desirable.

, Theprincipalobjectlof the invention is to provide a new and improved square wave generator operable over an extremely wide band of frequencies.

Another object is to provide a novel square wave generator which is operable over a frequency band of'the order of 1 to 800,000. cycles per second.

A further object is to provide. an improved square wave generator comprising a multivibrator oscillator with. clip-per amplifier circuits coupled thereto which is operable over an extremely wide frequency band and providesa well shaped square waveat any frequency in the band.

My invention arises from therealization that in prior apparatus, as described above,.the width of they frequency band is. limited largely by the nature of the coupling between the multivibrator and amplifier and between successive stages of the amplifier. Usually, a coupling capacitor is employed. However, for, low frequencies the capacitor must have a verylarge capacity and, consequently must eithervbe extremely large or be of the electrolytic type, the leakage resistance andv instability of whichmakes, itundesi iable as a coupling capacitor at such points in the generator. Thus, the use of a coupling capacitor for very low frequencies is believed to be impractical.

On the other hand, a direct resistive coupling is satisfactory for lowfrequencies but is not satisfactory for either the high frequencies within the band of oscillations of the square wave generator or the high frequencies represented by the steep wave front of each individual pulse of the square wave. At high frequencies the input capacitance ofthe amplifier tube becomes of considerable importance with a direct resistive coupling. This input capacitance in such an arrangement causes an exponential time delay between a change in the output voltage of the oscillator and the corresponding change in grid voltage of the amplifier tube which delay precludes a, substantially vertical wave front output for the amplifier.

Accordingly, it is also an object of the invention to provide an improved square wave generator having a wide frequency band coupling between an oscillator and an amplifier and between successive stages of an amplifier which coupling incorporates the advantages of a direct resistive coupling at low frequencies and of a capacitive coupling at high frequencies.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out inthe following description and claims and illustrated in, the accompanying drawing, which discloses, by way of example, the principle .91. the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated; of applying that .principle.

In the drawing:

The single figure is a schematic wiring diagram of,a square wave generator embodying my invention.

s sho nin th d awing i q a wave m erator is made up of a power supply unit lll a. multivibrator oscillator ll. and a three stage clipper amplifier I2. Conventional cathode heater. circuits for, tubes in. the. various units ale omittedfromv the drawing forv clarity.

The power supplyunit is energized from an alternating current sourcethrough, a transformer I3. A rectifier tube .Vl ,has its two anodesconnectedv to, .opposite ends of .a secondary winding Mnofwthe transformerl3. The cathode oftrectie fier NT! is connected to .arcentfir tap [5 on. the secondary winding l4 througha choke coil-I6 in serieslwith .a. capacitor 01 whereby a D. C. voltage of therpolarityindicated in the drawing is providedtacrosscapacitor Cl. Another capacitor-C2. -and-a semi variable resistor R! are connected in series across thecapacitor CI to provide all C. voltage on the capaictOr'CZ which,in the particular circuit shown, maybe of the'order of- LEG-volts.

A half wave rectifier V2; shown as a double diode, is-connected in series with two "resistors R2-andR3-from thev center tap l5 to one end of'the secondary winding M. A capacitor C3 is in parallel with the resistor R2 so that a DC. voltageof approximately lOilvolts appears thereacross.

A voltage regulator tube V3 is connected in series with a resistor R4 across the capacitor 02 so that-a regulated voltage of approximately volts appears across the rectifier tube V3. Four 3 D. C. voltage supply lines, II, I8, I9 and 20 are then provided from the power unit I II, as illustrated in the drawing. The first line I! is connected to the positive terminal of capacitor C2 capacitor C3 and is approximately 100 volts negative relative to line I9. D. C. voltage supply source may be employed al- Of course, any suitable though a regulated voltage supply for the oscillator is desirable and I have found the specific supply unit described to be highly satisfactory.

The multivibrator oscillator II is of the well known positive bias type. It is supplied with the regulated voltage appearing between supply lines I8 and I9. The multivibrator comprises a twin triode, the halves of which are designated as V4 and V5. The anodes of tubes V4 and V5 are connected to line I8 through load resistors R5 and R6, respectively. These load resistors R5 and R6 are of a relatively low resistance to minimize the effects of tube and circuit capacitance in the -m ultivibrator at the higher frequencies within the widefrequency band desired. The common cathode of tubes V4 and V5 is connected to supply line I9. The control grid of tube V4 is connected through a resistor R1 and a selected capacitor in the capacitor bank comprising capacitors C4, C5,

C6, C1, C8 and C9 to the anode of tube V5. The

control grid of tube V5 is connected to the anode of tube V4 through the resistor R8 and a selected capacitor of the capacitor bank comprising capacitors 04a, 05a, 06a, 01a, 08a, and 09a. The selectors 2| of the capacitor banks may be operated simultaneously to determine Which of the capacitors are connected in their respective circuits at any selected setting and that corresponding capacitors in the two banks are simultaneously so connected.

The grids of tubes V4 and V5 are also connected together in a circuit which can be traced from the grid of tube V4 through the resistor R1, the parallel circuit comprising a variable resistor R9 on one side and a resistor RIO, a pair of variable resistors RI I and RI Ia and a resistor RI 2 on the other side. The connection between the grids. continues through resistor R8 to the grid of tube V5. A voltage divider comprising a pair of series connected resistors R I 3 and Rl3a is connected between supply lines I8 and I9. The junction between variable resistors RII and Rlla is connected through another resistor RI4 to an adjustable tap on resistor RI3. A capacitor CID is also connected from the junction between resistors RI I and RI Ia to the supply line I9. To enable stabilization of the multivibrator by a synchronizing pulse, a terminal SI is provided over which a synchronous input pulse may be sup- 7 plied. A capacitor C II and a resistor RI5 are connected in series from the terminal SI to the supply line I9. An adjustable tap on the resistor RI 5 is connected through a capacitor CI 2 and another resistor RIS to the grid of tube V4.

The operation of a positive bias multivibrator i of this type is well known an consequently only a brief description thereof is needed here. If it is assumed that the capacitor banks are set as illustrated in the drawing and the tubes have already been warmed, then when voltage is applied to the multivibrator through lines I8 and I9, one

of the tubes V4 or V5, because of transients or the absence of exact uniformity in the two tubes or their circuits, will conduct more current than the other. As a result a negative signal is passed from the anode of that one tube, because of the increased voltage drop across the corresponding load resistor R5 or R6, through the associated capacitor C5 or Clia to the grid of the other tube. The current through that other tube is thus reduced, which results in the grid of the aforesaid one tube becoming more positive to increase the current therethrough still further. It is apparent the effect is a cumulative one and the current through the one tube rapidly reaches a maximum while the current through the other tube is out off. This circuit condition remains until the charge on the capacitor C6 or 05a connected to the grid of the other tube leaks ofi to permit current to again flow through the other tube. When this occurs the cumulative eifect again takes place but in the reverse direction. Thus,

the current flow shifts between tubes V4 and V5.

The output of the multivibrator is taken from the anode of tube V5. This output approaches a square wave but in itself is a very poorly shaped wave. The frequency of the output of the multivibrator is, of course, determined by the various capacitors and resistors in the circuit. The resistor R9 may be varied to provide a rather coarse frequency adjustment while adjustment of the tap on resistor RI3 effects a finer control of frequency. The major frequency control is, of course, in the setting of the capacitor banks to permit operation of the multivibrator at a selected frequency over a wide frequency band. Variable resistors RII and RI Ia may also be adjusted to control the width of the pulse provided by the multivibrator.

The amplifier I2 comprises three stages represented by tubes V6, V1 and V8 respectively.

Tube V6 isconnected as a pentode with its anode connected through resistor RN to supplyline I1 and its cathode connected to line I9. The screen grid 22 of tube V6 is connected to line I! through a resistor RIB whereby a desired voltage is obtained on the screen grid. This screen grid voltage is stabilized by a capacitor CI3 connected between the screen grid and the cathode.

The amplifier I2 is coupled to the multivibrator oscillator II by a novel coupling arrangement. Three resistors RI9, R20 and R2I are connected in series between the anode of tube V5 of the oscillator and line 20 to form a voltage divider. An adjustable tap on the resistor R20 is connected to the control grid of tube V6 through a grid resistor R22. A capacitor CI4 is connected di-. rectly between the anode of tube V5 and the adjustable tap on resistor R29.

The tap on resistor R29 is adjusted so that the voltage across the divider formed by resistors RI9, R20 and R2I, which voltage is derived from the anode of tube V5 of the multivibrator II, tends to cause the voltage of the grid of tube V6 to alternate between a first voltage more negative thanthe cutofi voltage of the tube and a second voltage more positive than the voltage to which the grid is limited by the grid current. Thus, when tube V5 is conductive, the voltage of the grid tube V5 goes below cutoff and negative clipping of the wave produced by the multivibrator results. When tube V5 is non-conductive, the grid voltage of tube V6 tends to become highly positive but is limited to a value slightly above the cathode voltage and positive clipping rangement' of-resistorsRl 9; R2 -and- R211 However,- when the multivibrator-operates at a high frequency; the input capacitance-ofthe tube V becomes appreciable and with the impedance offered by resistors R19 "and Ru -between the anOdeof-tube V5" and the grid-of tube V6; this input capacitance would-,in the absence'of capacitor C I4,-prevent the grid oftube- V6 fromfollowing-instantaneousvoltage changes at t heanode of tube V5? The capacitor Cl4= is of 'a'size-ofiering a relatively "low impedance at high -frequen= ciesand so provides a';low impedance path from the anodeof-tube-VE to-the grid of tube V6. The:

capacitor C14 thus serves tobalanceout the ef--- fect of the input capacitance-of the tube "and thereby eliminates the'distortion in the wave which otherwise would appear at: high frequencies. At low frequencies, thecapacitor CH offr's' el -relatively high impedance. However, the input capacitance of the tube V6 is not sufficiently great tocauseappreciable.distortion at these low frequencies. rangement. provides efficient coupling at both the highzand .low frequencies over a very wide frequency: band.

The second stage of they amplifier I2 cornprising :tube V1, is connected to, the firststageby a coupling arrangement similar to that between the oscillator and the first stage of the amplifier. Tube V1 is shown as a pentode connected as a triode with its anode connected to line I! through a resistor R26 and its cathode connected to line l9. Resistors R23 and R24 are connected between the anode of tube V6 and the supply line 20. The junction between resistors R23 and R24 is connected to the control grid of tube V'I through a resistor R25 and a capacitor Cl5 is connected in shunt across the resistor R23.

As previously explained, the tube V6 of the first amplifier stage has a clipping action. Tube V6 also provides suificient amplitude in its output voltage to permit further positive and negative clipping by the tube V! of the second stage.

A pair of parallel connected capacitors Cl 6 and CI! are connected in series with a resistor R2! between the adjustable tap on the resistor R26 and the line H. An output terminal A is connected so that between terminal A and a grounded terminal G on line I! there appears a square wave as produced across the resistor R21. The capacitor-resistor circuit CIG, CH, and R21 provides a coupling whereby the output of the generator may be coupled to various other apparatus without affecting the generation of the square wave itself. The capacitors CIS and C1! are thus coupling capacitors. One of these capacitors CNS is quite large and is preferably an electrolytic capacitor, while the other capacitor C" is quite small and is preferably a paper capacitor. Thus, the capacitor Cl! can efficiently pass the high frequency while capacitor CIB efficiently passes the low frequency. An electrolytic capacitor C16 may be satisfactorily employed in this position in as much as the square wave has now been provided at a sufficiently amplified strength that any inaccuracies arising therefrom are negligible. Consequently, a leakage through the electrolytic capacitor will not have any material effect. It is also to be noted that the more positive terminal of the electrolytic capacitor C l 6 is connected to the ground through Thus,: this coupling: are.

the resistor R21 to provide a polarizing .potene. tial to the capacitorto maintain it in goodJcon---- dition.

plifier l2. connected as a triode with its anode connected through resistor R3itc line I! and its cathode connected to line l9. Tube V8'is coupledlto the output of tube V! by coupling similar to that be-" tween tubes V1 and V6. This coupling comprises resistors R28 and R29 connected between. the 1 anodeof tube .Vl and. line 20 and capacitor C18 connectedin shuntacross resistor R28 with the. junctionbetween resistors R28 and R. 25 connected to the control grid of tube V8 through resistor R30.

The. action of. tube. V8 is the same asthat; described fortube Vl, but of course, the output.- willbe 18.0; out of phase with the output ofv tube The output fortube V3 is obtained between a terminal B and the ground terminal G. The

terminal B is connected to the junction point be,- tween a resistor R32 connected .in series with a pairof parallelcapacitors C19 and C20; between an adjustable tap. on resistor R3l and the line I l. "Capacitors C19 and C20 are similar in struc:

ture and function to vc'apacitorsCHi and 0H,.

respectively.

A synchronizing. outputimpulse of fixed ampli-.,,

Capacitors CI, C240 mfd. 350 wv. C316 mfd. 350 wv.

C5, C5a--0.2 mfd.

C6, CHIP-0.015 mfd. C1, Ola-0.00115 mfd. C8, C8a-0.000075 mfd. C9, C9a-0.000025 mfd. Cl@-0.25 mfd.

CH, CH, 020-01 mfd. Cl2--0.01 mfd.

Cl3, C16, CIB, C2 l--50 mfd. CH, CH), Cl8-25 mfd.

Resistors RI1500 ohms 25 W. R2-16000 ohms R3, RI 4-15000 ohms R4-400 ohms 10 W.

R5, R6, R1, R8-5000 ohms R9-2 megohms RI 0, RIM, RI5, RIB, R33--5000 ohms RI I, RI Ia, RIB, R21, R32100,000 ohms RI2200,000 ohms RI3-25,000 ohms RI'I--2500 ohms RI 9, R2 I360,000 ohms R20--250,000 ohms R22, R25, R30, R34-10,000 ohms R23510,000 ohms R24390,000 ohms R26, R3 I3,000 ohms R28, R29 l70,000 ohms While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodi ment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its opera-.

during the more negative portion of the oscillating voltage and above said second level during the more positive portion of the oscillating voltage, and a shunting capacitor connected from the end of said divider opposite said one end to said point and offering relatively high impedance at low frequencies and relatively low impedance at high frequencies with said band.

CARL A. BERGFORS.

REFERENCES CKTED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,118,626 Smith May 24, 1938 2,120,823 White June 14, 1938 2,131,566 Lindenblad Sept. 27, 1938 2,200,073 Bedford May 7, 1940 Clark July 13, 1943 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,514,023 July 4, 1950 CARL A. BERGFORS It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 8, line 19, for the Word with read within;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofice.

Signed and sealed this 3rd day of October, A. D. 1950.

[sun] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant (Jammz'ssz'oner of Patents. 

